AFLPA ready to go back to negotiating table with AFLW players

Players union boss Paul Marsh has called on the AFLW playing group to "unite and move forward" as discussions begin to sort out a deal for a collective bargaining agreement that has been rejected twice.

Marsh urged all parties to put any bad blood from the weeks long stand-off behind them and press on with negotiations.

“This isn’t the end of this process," Marsh told SEN. "It’s now about getting out, meeting with players and understanding the barriers to getting this deal done and hopefully pushing forward.

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“We believe it’s a good deal, we have recommended it to the players. We respect that the players have a right to take in all the facts and make their decision - this is why we take it to a vote in the first place.”

AFLPA boss Paul Marsh is ready to go back to the negotiating table with AFLW players. Credit:Drew Ryan

“We want to get to a point where every team is playing every other team.”

“We’ve certainly got some work to do but we’ll do it.”

The major sticking points for those opposed is the number of games played and length of contracted weeks in the pre-season.

Darcy Vescio and Meg McDonald are the only two players to go public with their opposition to the deal.

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Other players, headlined by Adelaide Crows star Erin Phillips and Collingwood’s gun youngster Chloe Molloy, came out in support of the CBA following the vote.

“I supported this current CBA and so did 70% of the players in our great league,” Phillips wrote on Twitter. “I hope we can get a resolution SOON so we can all focus on what we love and that's to PLAY FOOTY!!! #AFLW @aflwomens @AFLPlayers.”

Molloy wrote on Twitter: “The @AFLPlayers have my full support as a player. I trust that they have our best intentions in the forefront of their minds when negotiating our future.

“I hope that the group can soon come to a united approval of the CBA so we can focus our energy on preseason & games.”

The deal being sorted is a matter of urgency given pre-season is meant to begin in early November and the 2020 season, the fourth AFLW season, is meant to start in early February.